A MAN who falsely claimed police had planted an extreme animal porn DVD in his flat has been sentenced to a nine-month community order.

In a two-day trial at Bolton Crown Court 59-year-old Brian Dawson denied possessing the DVD, but a jury unanimously found him guilty.

Police had found the DVD after they had gone to his Gainford Walk, Great Lever, home on March 20 last year following allegations about his behaviour in Heywood Park the previous day.

Graham Robinson, prosecuting, told the court how a mum, her young son and a female friend had gone to the park at 3.30pm.

The mum was driving along Lever Street, looking for somewhere to leave her car, when she saw a man, later identified as Dawson, looking into the park with his hand down the front of his trousers.

Later the woman saw Dawson again, sitting on a bench a few yards from children. He had his hand down his trousers again and the woman called police who arrested him.

“He appeared to accept he had had his hand down his trousers,” said Mr Robinson.

Dawson denied he had been engaged in a sexual act, claiming that he had been scratching himself, and subsequently pleaded guilty to outraging public decency.

During his trial for possessing the pornographic DVD, the jury heard how officers visiting his home had found it on a table in the living room of his flat.

Dawson denied it was his, claiming the only items on his table were his father’s ashes, a photograph of his dad and an ashtray.

He claimed the DVD had been planted in his home by officers, but the jury did not believe him.

At his sentencing hearing Judge Timothy Stead was told that Dawson still claimed he was innocent of the crime.

Mark Friend, defending, told the court that Dawson’s life is more settled now, he has a partner and employment and is hoping to move home.

Judge Stead told Dawson: “I can appreciate and do accept you have had a particularly rough period.

“You took to heavy drinking and there have been occasions when your conduct has been less than admirable.”

The judge said he accepted the incident in the park was not sexually motivated.

“It was more a case of wholly inappropriate conduct,” said Judge Stead.

Dawson was sentenced to a nine month community order, including 100 hours unpaid work.

He was also told he must pay £100 towards prosecution costs.